Investec Focus Radio SA

Some of Nick Holland’s biggest decisions took years to prove their worth. The former Gold Fields CEO joins Investec’s Nkateko Mathonsi to discuss the unbundling that created Sibanye Gold, and his backing of the Chilean mine Salares Norte long before production began. He explains why safety meant stopping production, and why higher output does not always mean better returns. Watch episode 5 of Investec Minds for a conversation about the judgement mining demands and the conviction to invest beyond your own tenure. Investec Focus Radio SA

Democratic Party control of the US House of Representatives and Senate has had three broad market implications: data centre buildouts are unpopular with voters; Congress will likely limit military escalation in the Middle East (which could bring down energy prices); and slower artificial intelligence-linked investment could be good for US Treasuries. Investec Focus Radio SA

AI agents have entered the workplace, robots are edging closer to our homes and billions continue to flow into the infrastructure powering artificial intelligence. But as technology advances, are the returns keeping pace with expectations? In this episode of No Ordinary Wednesday, Investec Global Equity analysts David Smith and Zane Bezuidenhout join Jeremy Maggs to examine the year's defining technology trends, the debate over an AI bubble and the companies best placed to benefit. From the future of work to the economics of AI, they unpack what 2026 has taught investors and what to watch in 2027 and beyond. Investec Focus Radio SA

Global equities continue to advance, while US corporate earnings continue to beat expectations. Taking into account these ongoing beats, notes Global Chief Investment Officer Chris Holdsworth, the overall US market now trades at just under 20 times earnings, which is not excessive by historical standards. Investec Focus Radio SA

The US economy continues to grow, thanks to ongoing investment into AI, and despite federal government indebtedness and higher inflation because of rising fuel prices. One area where the strain is showing though, says Global Chief Investment Officer Chris Holdsworth, is in the housing market, where mortgage rates are climbing and applications are falling. Should weaker house prices follow, this will be a headwind for consumer spending. Investec Focus Radio SA

AI investment is supporting growth, but its wider benefits remain uneven. Where will global capital go next, and what will businesses pay to access it? In this special edition of No Ordinary Wednesday, Cumesh Moodliar, CEO of Investec South Africa, and Andrew Lillywhite, head of bank funding group at Investec UK, share first-hand insights from their time at the 2026 IMF and World Bank meetings in Bangkok. Drawing on conversations at the meetings, they examine the forces shaping global investment. They also identify signals that could support investment, from more stable long-term interest rates to the potential impact of a stronger South African credit rating. Investec Focus Radio SA

The war in the Middle East continues to weigh on markets and the economy, with second round effects showing up in US inflation numbers, notes Investment Strategist at Investec Investment Management Osagyefo Mazwai. The tech sector was the biggest loser in the days following the US inflation print. Investec Focus Radio SA

The global economy is proving resilient, and company earnings remain healthy. Even so, Investec’s Global Investment Strategy Group has maintained a risk score of zero, reflecting a measured approach to portfolio positioning. The findings are published in the quarterly Global Investment View. On No Ordinary Wednesday, Chris Holdsworth, Investec Investment Management’s Global Chief Investment Officer, joins Jeremy Maggs to explain the thinking behind the decision. Investec Focus Radio SA

The AI story has been great for investors so far, but it may be making the Fed feel uncomfortable. AI investment is helping to fuel growth and inflation, potentially forcing the Fed to maintain a tighter policy stance – even though, says Global Chief Investment Officer Chris Holdsworth, the sectors most likely to bear the burden of higher rates are those contributing the least to inflationary pressures. Investec Focus Radio SA

Stronger revenue offers an opportunity to reduce borrowing. Will spending pressures limit the gains? Ahead of the 2026 Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS), Investec’s Annabel Bishop and Tertia Jacobs to examine the choices facing National Treasury. Higher precious metals prices offer the prospect of better-than-budgeted tax revenue. But weaker growth, inflation pressure and higher borrowing costs complicate the outlook. How Treasury uses any additional revenue will matter for debt sustainability and investor confidence. In this episode of No Ordinary Wednesday, our economists discuss spending discipline, the proposed fiscal anchor and why rising bond yields do not necessarily signal weaker confidence in South Africa. Investec Focus Radio SA